AB0725 Scleroderma study group Emilia Romagna (Sclero-RER): real life use of prostacyclin analog. Preliminary data from a multicentric survey.
Authors: L. Magnani, A. Ariani, F. Girelli, A. Spinella, F. Lumetti, A. Lo Monaco, M. Reta, E. Arrigoni, F. Ursini, A. Bezzi, P. Cataleta, L. Montaguti, M. Trevisani, M. Colina, S. Bernardi, A. Becciolini, G. Galoppini, F. Pignataro, J. Ciaffi, E. Bravi, M. C. Focherini, S. Moscatelli, P. Sambo, R. Mule’, S. Corvaglia, G. Bajocchi, D. Conti, C. Salvarani, D. Giuggioli
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by vascular damage, immune activation and fibrosis of skin and internal organs 1 . Raynaud phenomenon (RP) is frequently the first symptom of the disease and growing evidences are supporting the hypothesis the SSc may be a vascular disease, with a pivotal role of endothelial cells, particularly in the very early phase 2,3 . Robust data support the use of vascular active drug to treat RP and to prevent vascular complication 4–7 . Objectives The use of prostacyclin analog (PA) is evertything but standardized, with different regimen used all around the Country. We report data on the use of PA in a multicentric regional reality to understand which regimen are prevalent (and why) and if there is the opportunity to standardized them. Methods We collected data from an online survey exploring different items related to the use of PA. Results Survey was fullfilled by 12 sites: 5 university hospital and 7 local hospitals, 7 driven by Rheumatologist and 5 from internal medicine specialists with/without concomitant rheumatologists. PA are ubiquitarly used for SSc-related digital ulcers (SSc-DU) and secondary RP but only a half of sites use it for primary RP. Seventy-five percent of sites (9/12) dispense PA at least once a month, but some other (1 each one respectively) on weekly basis, every other month or every 7 weeks. Drug administration may last from 2 to 5 consecutive days (mean 1.91+/- 1.5SD) with drug dose ranging from 0.5 to 2 ng/Kg/min with a minimum variability from site to site. Our regional hospitals may count on overall 68 spots, some available as beds (outpatient or inpatient), some as reclining chair or chair (outpatients only). University centers have usually more assigned personnel than local hospital (on average: 2 versus 1.5 physicians, 2 versus 1.2 nurse). Sites are able to offer meals (except one) and are able to accomodate from 1 to 12 patients at the same time (mean 3.45, +/- 3.2SD). Conclusion PA has known benefit in vascular involvement in SSc patients. Despite a multicenter palcebo-control study 8 defining time and dose of this drugs and subsequent data based on the same regimen 9 , there is no homogeneity in treatment administration. The unequal treatment, based on our data, seems due to limited resources and personnel. High variability has been found in regimen duration and administration frequency. References [1]Ferri, C. et al. Systemic sclerosis evolution of disease pathomorphosis and survival. Our experience on Italian patients’ population and review of the literature. Autoimmunity Reviews vol. 13 1026–1034 (2014). [2]Mulligan-Kehoe, M. J. et al. Antiangiogenic plasma activity in patients with systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Rheum. 56 , 3448–58 (2007). [3]Wigley, F. M. Vascular disease in scleroderma. Clin. Rev. Allergy Immunol. 36 , 150–75 (2009). [4]Brueckner, C. S. et al. Effect of sildenafil on digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: Analysis from a single centre pilot study. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 69 , 1475–1478 (2010). [5]Kowal-Bielecka, O. et al. EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis: A report from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research group (EUSTAR). Ann. Rheum. Dis. 68 , 620–628 (2009). [6]Matucci-Cerinic, M. et al. Bosentan treatment of digital ulcers related to systemic sclerosis: Results from the RAPIDS-2 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 70 , 32–38 (2011). [7]Herrick, A. L. &amp; Wigley, F. M. Raynaud’s phenomenon. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Rheumatology (2020) doi:10.1016/j.berh.2019.101474. [8]Wigley, F. M. et al. Intravenous iloprost infusion in patients with Raynaud phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis: A multicenter, placebo-controlled, double- blind study. Ann. Intern. Med. 120 , 199–206 (1994). [9]Cappelli, L. &amp; Wigley, F. M. Management of Raynaud Phenomenon and Digital Ulcers in Scleroderma. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America vol. 41 419–438 (2015). Disclosure of Interests None declared